Atrial Fibrillation Treatment in Wichita Falls, TX

What Is AFib?

Atrial fibrillation, also referred to as AFib, heart fibrillation, or AF, is an irregular heartbeat that can cause serious health complications. Your heart normally contracts then relaxes repeatedly in a beat ranging from 60 to 100 beats a minute. In cases of atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart develop a fast or irregular heart beat—up to 175 beats a minute—and do not move your blood properly into the ventricles.

Almost 3 million people in the U.S. are living with atrial fibrillation, many with no symptoms. Atrial fibrillation increases your chances of developing a blood clot that can break off and enter your bloodstream, causing a heart attack or stroke. Untreated atrial fibrillation doubles your risk of heart-related death and increases your chances of having a stroke five-fold.

If you have a family history of AFib or are experiencing common AFib symptoms, schedule an appointment with a healthcare practitioner in Wichita Falls who specializes in atrial fibrillation treatment. Call (940) 222-4397 or contact Michael Moisant online.

AFib Causes

Atrial fibrillation almost always involves damage to the heart or abnormalities in the heart structure. These abnormalities and damage may be caused by various factors that contribute to the development of AFib, including:

Genetics may also play a role, as roughly 30% of AFib patients have a blood relative who also suffers from atrial fibrillation symptoms. In some cases, an irregular heartbeat is not linked to any underlying health conditions—this is known as lone atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms

The classic symptom of atrial fibrillation is the presence of an irregular heartbeat or palpitations; this includes a sensation that your heart is quivering, racing, hammering or flip-flopping in your chest.

Other atrial fibrillation symptoms include:

Pain or discomfort in your chest

Weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness

Inability or reduced ability to exercise

Fatigue

Confusion

Breathing problems, including shortness of breath

Anxiety

Sweating

If you have any of these AFib symptoms—even if you do not have the classic irregular heart beat—you may still be suffering from atrial fibrillation.

Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation

To arrive at an atrial fibrillation diagnosis, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and a review of your symptoms. Medical testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis and may involve an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood testing, and stress testing. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), in which you swallow a small ultrasound device so that your healthcare provider can see inside your heart atria to check for blood clots, may also be used.

If you are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, it will be classified as one of the following types or stages:

Occasional AFib, also known as paroxysmal fibrillation, is diagnosed when your irregular heart rhythm is not long-lasting or persistent. Symptoms may present for a few minutes, or even hours or days, but then cease even without any treatment. Symptoms are sporadic and may occur a few times a year or sometimes daily. It can progress, and episodes can last longer or become more frequent or severe, sometimes developing into persistent or permanent AFib.

Persistent AFib is diagnosed when your irregular heart rhythm persists for longer than seven days. At this stage of development, your normal sinus rhythm will not resume on its own and will require some form of treatment.

Treating Atrial Fibrillation

The stage or severity of your AFib—together with other medical conditions you may have—will be taken into consideration when developing a treatment plan. Treatment options range from AFib medications and surgery to lifestyle modifications.

Medications

Atrial fibrillation medications are used to treat the following issues:

Preventing and treating blood clots using antiplatelets and anticoagulants

Non-Surgical Treatments

Electrical cardioversion, a procedure in which you receive electrical shock to the chest via paddles or patches to reset your heart to its normal rhythm

Radiofrequency ablation or catheter ablation, in which a catheter is threaded into the heart to destroy tissue that is malfunctioning and causing AFib symptoms

Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures to treat AFib include:

A pacemaker implantation, in which an electrical device is placed under your skin near your collarbone with wires that go into the heart, to regulate your heartbeat through electrical signal

Open-heart maze surgery, in which a surgeon makes small cuts in the upper part of your heart to create scar tissue that interferes with the transmission of the electrical impulses that cause AFib

Lifestyle Modifications

It is important also to consider lifestyle issues in addressing any heart condition. Proper diet, management of medications, healthy weight and exercise are all part of maximizing heart health. Your healthcare provider may recommend a diet such as the Mediterranean diet or certain supplements, in conjunction with medication or medical treatments.

If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, you are not without options. Request more information about available AFib treatments today. Call (940) 222-4397 or contact Michael Moisant online.